NORCO: Trial alleges city harassed restaurant, owner

CORRECTION:An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the defendants in the case. The Riverside Community
College District, two police officers and Riverside County Sheriff Stanley
Sniff have been dismissed from the case. The city of Norco, then city-manager
Jeff Allred and then-Riverside County Sheriff’s Lt. Ross Cooper are still being
sued.

During the first day in a trial against the city and its former police chief, attorneys for a Norco business owner said they have evidence showing those agencies singled out their client and harassed him for years in an effort to shut down his business.

Attorneys for Rob Koziel, owner of The Maverick Saloon and a former city councilman, presented opening statements Monday, Jan. 14, in a civil lawsuit filed more than three years ago. The suit alleges police and city officials violated Koziel’s civil rights and targeted him and his restaurant. City officials have said the lawsuit has no merit.

The case was originally filed against the city of Norco, then-city manager Jeff Allred, then-Riverside County Sheriff’s Lt. Ross Cooper, Riverside County, Sheriff Stanley Sniff, the Riverside Community College District and two officers.

But Sniff, the college and two officers have been dismissed from the case.

Andrew Roth, Koziel’s attorney, spent several hours outlining allegations that Cooper, who was serving as the city’s top law enforcement official, used excessive law enforcement actions to try to close the Hamner Avenue business.

He said Cooper and Koziel did not get along, partly because Koziel had pushed to end a sheriff’s department contract for law enforcement services and instead create a city police department to save the city money.

Koziel served on the City Council from 1995 to 1999 and was mayor from 1996 to 1997.

Roth alleged Cooper created false and exaggerated information on reports used to try to close The Maverick. He said deputies were sent to the location daily, told customers not to frequent the establishment and blocked the parking lot.

Koziel’s business was not free of problems. In December 2005, a firefighter was wounded in a shooting at the restaurant. In 2007, the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control penalized the bar, Koziel and Norco, describing the business as a law-enforcement and public safety problem. And Koziel’s license once was suspended for offenses that included selling alcohol to a minor, department records show.

Attorneys for Cooper and the city are expected to present their opening statements Tuesday, Jan. 15, followed by testimony from Koziel and Norco Councilman Harvey Sullivan.